USDA researchers found the metabolisable energy content of a 28g serving of cashews is 137 kcal, instead of the current reported value of 163 kcal/serving.
In a human-intervention trial published in Nutrients, researchers at the USDA, ARS, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, looked at the available energy content in cashew nuts.
The nine weeks study recruited 18 volunteers. One group consumed a base diet supplemented with 42g of cashew nuts daily, the other group being the control with no cashew supplementation.
Diet, feces and urine samples from the volunteers were collected and analysed for protein, fat and energy content. From these, researchers were able to determine the actual digestible energy content of cashews.
Study results showed that the available energy (calorie) content of cashews is 16 per cent lower than that which is typically stated on current food labels and databases in the United States, including the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. These must be corrected in order to provide consumers with accurate energy values.
Whereas the current reported energy value is 163 kcal/serving, USDA researchers found that the metabolisable energy content of a 28 g (1 oz) serving of cashews is 137 kcal.
This study was supported by the Global Cashew Council and the INC International Nut and Dried Fruit Council. [APBN]